Packaging for wrapping a floral grouping with a wrap having a wrap opening

ABSTRACT

A wrap having a wrap opening formed through a portion thereof for wrapping a floral grouping having a bloom end and a stem end. The stem end of the floral grouping is inserted through the wrap opening in the wrap and the wrap is formed about the floral grouping and encompasses a substantial portion of the floral grouping while a portion of the stem end of the floral grouping remains extended through the wrap opening in the wrap. In one embodiment, the wrap includes an adhesive or cohesive or drawstring or the like for cooperating to secure the wrap tightly wrapped about the stem end of the floral grouping and for cooperating to secure the wrap wrapped about the floral grouping.

This is a divisional of co-pending application Ser. No. 07/906,089 filedon Jun. 29, 1992, entitled, Wrap for a Floral Grouping and Method, nowU.S. Pat. No. 5,205,108.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a wrap for a floral grouping and amethod for wrapping a floral grouping with such wrap and, moreparticularly, but not by way of limitation, to a wrap having a wrapopening formed through a portion thereof wherein a stem end of thefloral grouping is extended through the wrap opening and the wrap thenis wrapped about the floral grouping.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the upper surface of a wrap constructed inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the wrap of FIG. 1, taken substantiallyalong the lines 2--2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the wrap of FIGS. 1 and 2 showing a floralgrouping having the stem end thereof initially inserted through a wrapopening in the wrap.

FIG. 4 is a view of the wrap of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 showing the wrap formedand wrapped about the floral grouping.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a wrap similar to that shown in FIG. 3,except the modified wrap shown in FIG. 5 has adhesive on the oppositesurface of the wrap as compared to the surface of the wrap having theadhesive thereon shown in FIGS. 1 through 4.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of another modified wrap, similar to FIGS. 2and 5, except the wrap shown in FIG. 6 has adhesive on only a portion ofthe upper surface thereof.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of still another modified wrap, similar toFIG. 6, but the modified wrap shown in FIG. 7 has adhesive on only aportion of the lower surface thereof.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a wrap constructed exactly like the wrapshown in FIG. 6, except the modified wrap show in FIG. 8 comprises twosheets of material having a draw string laminated therebetween.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the wrap of FIG. 8 shown wrapped orformed about a floral grouping.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view showing the wrap of FIGS. 1 through 4 orFIG. 5 or FIG. 6 or FIG. 7 or FIG. 8 wrapped about a floral grouping andhaving a portion of the wrap connected to a water vase.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention relates to a packaging comprising a wrap 10 (FIGS.1, 2 3 and 4) for wrapping a floral grouping 12 (FIGS. 3 and 4) having abloom end 14 and a stem end 16. The wrap 10 has an upper surface 18(FIGS. 1, 2 and 3) and a lower surface 20 (FIGS. 2, 3 and 4). The wrap10 also has an outer periphery 22 (FIGS. 1-4).

As shown in FIGS. 1-4, the wrap 10 is generally circularly shaped.However, the wrap 10 may be rectangularly shaped or square shaped or anyother geometric shape.

The wrap 10 is constructed of a sheet of material or a plurality ofsheets of material where the sheets of material are laminated to eachother or laid or disposed simply one on top of the other. The wrap 10may be constructed from a variety of materials. The wrap 10 isconstructed from any substantially flat, flexible suitable sheet ofmaterial that is capable of being wrapped about the floral grouping 12.Preferably, the wrap 10 is constructed of paper (untreated or treated inany manner), cellophane, foil, man-made organic polymer film, fabric(natural or synthetic), burlap, cling material, denim or combinationsthereof.

The term "man-made organic polymer film" means a man-made resin such asa polypropylene as opposed to naturally occurring resins such ascellophane.

A man-made organic polymer film is relatively strong and not as subjectto tearing (substantially non-tearable), as might be the case with paperor foil. The man-made organic polymer film is a substantially linearlylinked processed organic polymer film and is a synthetic linear chainorganic polymer where the carbon atoms are substantially linearlylinked. Such films are synthetic polymers formed or synthesized frommonomers. Further, a relatively substantially linearly linked processedorganic polymer film is virtually waterproof which may be desirable inmany applications such as wrapping a floral grouping.

Additionally a relatively thin film of substantially linearly linkedprocessed organic polymer does not substantially deteriorate insunlight. Processed organic polymer films having carbon atoms bothlinearly linked and cross linked, and some cross linked polymer films,also may be suitable for use in the present invention provided suchfilms are substantially flexible and can be made in a sheet-like formatfor wrapping purposes consistent with the present invention. Forexample, one man-made organic polymer film is a polypropylene film.

A decorative pattern, such as a color and/or an embossed pattern, and/orother decorative surface ornamentation may be applied to the uppersurface 18 and/or the lower surface 20 of the wrap 10 or portionsthereof including, but not limited to printed design, coatings, colors,flocking or metallic finishes. The wrap 10 also may be totally orpartially clear or tinted transparent material.

The wrap 10 may be constructed of a single layer of material or aplurality of layers of the same or different types of materials. Anythickness of the wrap 10 may be utilized in accordance with the presentinvention as long as the wrap 10 is wrappable about the floral grouping12 as described herein. Additionally, an insulating material such asbubble film, preferable as one of two layers, can be utilized in orderto provide needed protection for the floral grouping 12. In a preferredembodiment, the wrap 10 is constructed from two polypropylene films (a20"×15" sheet of Mobil 270 ABW white opaque film laminated to a 20"×15"sheet of Mobil 220 AB clear film) having a thickness in a range of fromless than about 1.0 mil to about 30.0 mils, and more preferably to about10.0 mils.

"Floral grouping" as used herein means cut fresh flowers, artificialflowers, other fresh and/or artificial plants or other floral materialsand may include other secondary plants and/or ornamentation which add tothe aesthetics of the overall floral grouping 12. The term "floralgrouping" as used herein also is intended to include a single flower orplant.

"Cling Wrap or Material" as used herein means any material which iscapable of connecting to the sheet of material and/or itself uponcontacting engagement during the wrapping process and is wrappable aboutthe floral grouping 12 whereby portions of the cling materialcontactingly engage and connect to other portions of the wrappingmaterial for generally securing the wrap 16 wrapped about at least aportion of the floral grouping 12. This connecting engagement ispreferably temporary in that the wrap 10 may be easily removed withouttearing same, i.e., the cling material "clings" to the wrap 10. Awrapping material which remains securely connected to and about thewrapped item until the wrapping material is torn therefrom.

The cling material is constructed and treated if necessary, frompolyethylene such as Cling Wrap made by GladN, First Brands Corporation,Danbury, Connecticut. The thickness of the cling material will, in part,depend upon the thickness of the sheet of material utilized, i.e.,generally, the thicker and therefore heavier sheet of material mayrequire a thicker and therefore stronger cling material. The clingmaterial will range in thickness from less than about 0.2 mils to about10 mils, and preferably less than about 0.5 mils to about 2.5 mils andmost preferably from less than about 0.6 mils to about 2 mils. However,any thickness of cling material may be utilized in accordance with thepresent invention which permits the cling material to function asdescribed herein.

A wrap opening 24 (FIGS. 1-4) is formed through a portion of the wrap10. More particularly, the wrap opening 24 is formed through a centralportion of the wrap 10. The wrap opening 24 intersects the upper andlower surfaces 18 and 20 of the wrap 10 and is spaced a distance fromthe outer periphery 22.

A bonding material 26 which may be an adhesive or cohesive material isapplied to the a portion of the upper surface 18 of the wrap 10. Asshown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the bonding material 26 is appliedsubstantially to the entire upper surface 18 of the wrap 10. The bondingmaterial 26 can be applied to the wrap 10 in strips or spots and maycover only a portion of the upper and/or lower surfaces 18 and 20. Thethickness of the bonding material 26 is exaggerated in FIGS. 1-3 forillustration purposes.

In operation, the stem end 16 of the floral grouping 12 is insertedthrough the wrap opening 24 to a position wherein a portion of the stemend 16 extends through the wrap opening 24 and a distance beyond thelower surface 20 of the wrap 18. The wrap 10 then is formed about thefloral grouping 12 with the upper surface 18 of the wrap 10 beingdisposed near the floral grouping 12 and the wrap 10 encompassing asubstantial portion of the floral grouping 12 while a portion of thestem end 16 of the floral grouping 12 remains extended through the wrapopening 24, as shown in FIG. 4. In one preferred form, the wrap 10 willsubstantially encompass the bloom end 14 of the floral grouping 12,although the bloom end 14 is shown in FIG. 4 extended above the wrap 10for illustration purposes. It should be noted that, in someapplications, the bloom end 14 of the floral grouping 12 may extendupwardly beyond the wrap 10, as shown in FIG. 4.

Preferably, the wrap 10 is tightly folded or wrapped about the stem end16 of the floral grouping 12 and portions of the wrap 10 with thebonding material 26 thereon are brought into contact and bonded withother portions of the wrap 10 having the bonding material 26 thereon forcooperating to secure the wrap 10 tightly wrapped about the stem end 16of the floral grouping 12. Further, as the wrap 10 is formed about thebloom end 14 of the floral grouping 12, portions of the wrap 10 havingthe bonding material 26 thereon are brought into contact and bonded withadjacent portions of the wrap 10 with the bonding material thereon toform bonded overlapping folds 28 to secure the wrap 10 loosely wrappedabout the bloom end 14 of the floral grouping 12. Portions of thebonding material 26 also are brought into contact with and bonded withportions of the stem end 16 of the floral grouping 12 thereby bondingthe wrap 10 to the floral grouping 12 generally about a portion of thestem end 16 for securing the wrap 10 to the floral grouping 12 and forsubstantially preventing the floral grouping 12 from sliding or movingwithin or out from the wrap 10. The overlapping folds 28 are formed byportions of the wrap 10 overlapping and engaging adjacent portions ofthe wrap 10 with the bonding material 26 bonding the overlapping andadjacent portions.

EMBODIMENT OF FIG. 5

Shown in FIG. 5 is a modified wrap 10a which is constructed exactly likethe wrap 10 shown in FIGS. 1-4 and described in detail before, exceptthe bonding material 26a is disposed on the lower surface 20a of thewrap 10a. The wrap 10a is wrapped about the floral grouping in a mannerexactly like that described before with respect to the wrap 10, exceptthe bonding material 26a will not bond to the stem end 16 of the floralgrouping 12. Rather, overlapping folds like the overlapping folds 28 areformed in the wrap 10a generally about the stem end 16 and theoverlapping folds cooperate to secure the wrap 10a tightly wrapped aboutthe stem end 16.

EMBODIMENT OF FIG. 6

Shown in FIG. 6 is a wrap 10b which is constructed exactly like the wrap10 shown in FIGS. 1-4, except the bonding material 26b on the uppersurface 18b of the modified wrap 10b is disposed adjacent the wrapopening 24b with the bonding material 26b extending a distance from thewrap opening 24b. The wrap 10b is wrapped about the floral grouping in amanner exactly like that described before with respect to the wrap 10with the bonding material 26b cooperating to tightly secure the wrap 10babout the stem end 16 of the floral grouping 12, except the overlappingfolds formed in the wrap 10b extending generally about the bloom end 14of the floral grouping 12 are not bonded since the bonding material 26bdoes not extend to the outer periphery 22b. The bonding material 26bextends only from the wrap opening 24b a distance outwardly toward theouter periphery 22b and is spaced a distance from the outer periphery 22b.

EMBODIMENT OF FIG. 7

Shown in FIG. 7 is a wrap 10c constructed exactly like the wrap 10bshown in FIG. 6, except the bonding material 26c is disposed on thelower surface 20c of the wrap 10c.

EMBODIMENT OF FIGS. 8 AND 9

Shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 is another modified wrap 10d, the wrap 10d beingonly partially shown in FIG. 8. The wrap 10d is constructed exactly likethe wrap 10b (FIG. 6) or the wrap 10c (FIG. 7) except the wrap 10dspecifically comprises two sheets of material 30 and 32 (FIG. 8)laminated together with an opening 34 being formed between the twosheets of material 30 and 32 near and spaced a distance from the outerperiphery 22d of the wrap 10d and with a drawstring 36 extending throughthe opening 34 between the two sheets of material 30 and 32 and with theopposite ends of the drawstring 36 extending outwardly through openings38 and 40 in the wrap 10d, as shown in FIG. 9.

In this embodiment, the wrap 10d is tightly wrapped about the stem end16 and secured thereto via the bonding material 26b or 26c in a mannerexactly like that described before. The wrap 10d is loosely securedabout the bloom end 14 of the floral grouping 12 by pulling thedrawstring 36 and then tying the drawstring 36 after the wrap 10d hasbeen loosely gathered and secured about the bloom end 14 of the floralgrouping 12.

EMBODIMENT OF FIG. 10

Shown in FIG. 10 is a wrap 10e which is constructed exactly like thewrap 10, 10a, 10b, 10c or 10d described in detail before except a watervase 42 is secured to the wrap opening 24e. The water vase 42 has anopening 44 for receiving and accommodating water and a cap 46 with a capopening 48 formed thereto secured to an upper end of the water vase 42.The cap 46 is constructed of a flexible material preferably.

The water vase 42 may be secured to the wrap 10e prior to forming thewrap 10e about the floral grouping 12 or the wrap 10e may be secured tothe water vase 42 during the wrapping operation.

In those instances where the water vase 42 is secured via the bondingmaterial (not shown) to the wrap 10e with the opening 44 of the watervase 42 being aligned with the wrap opening 24e, the stem end 16 of thefloral grouping 12 is inserted through the wrap opening 24e and througha cap opening 48 and into the opening 44 in the water vase 42 with thestem end 16 being secured to the wrap 10e via the engagement with thecap 46. The wrap 10e then is wrapped about the bloom end 14 and looselysecured thereabout in the manners described before.

In those instances where the wrap 10e is not initially connected to thewater vase 42e, the stem end 16 of the floral grouping 12 initially isinserted through the cap opening 48 and into the opening 44 of the watervase 42. Then, the water vase 42 along with the floral grouping 12 isinserted through the wrap opening 24e and the wrap 10e to a positionwherein a portion of the water vase 42 along with a portion of the stemend 16 of the floral grouping 12 extends through the wrap opening 24eand extends a distance beyond the lower surface 20e of the wrap 10e. Inthis position, the wrap 10e is tightly secured to the water vase 42 viathe bonding material (not shown) and the wrap 10e is loosely wrapped andsecured about the bloom end 14 of the floral grouping 12 in any one ofthe manners described before.

Changes may be made in the construction in the operation of the variouscomponents, elements and assemblies of the wrap described herein andchanges may be made in the steps or the sequence of steps of the methodsdescribed herein without departing from the spirit and the scope of theinvention as defined in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A packaging comprising:a floral grouping having abloom end and a stem end; and a wrap having an upper surface and a lowersurface and an outer periphery, a wrap opening being formed through aportion of the wrap intersecting the upper and the lower surfaces of thewrap and being spaced a distance from the outer periphery of the wrap,said wrap being provided with a bonding material on at least one of theupper and lower surfaces of the wrap at lease near the wrap opening thestem end of the floral grouping being inserted through the wrap openingto a position wherein the stem end of the floral grouping extends adistance beyond the lower surface of the wrap and the wrap being formedabout the floral grouping with the upper surface of the wrap beingdisposed near the floral grouping and the wrap encompassing asubstantial portion of the floral grouping while a portion of the stemend of the floral grouping remains extended through the wrap opening,and the bloom end remains partially exposed, and portions of the wrapwith the bonding material thereon being brought into contact and bondedwith other portions of the wrap for forming bonded overlapping foldscooperating to secure the wrap tightly wrapped about the stem end of thefloral grouping.
 2. The packaging of claim 2 wherein the wrap is definedfurther as being formed about the floral grouping with the bondedoverlapping folds cooperating to loosely secure the wrap about the bloomend of the floral grouping.
 3. The packing of claim 1 wherein the wrapis defined further as being constructed of a substantially flat,flexible sheet of material.
 4. The packaging of claim 1 wherein the wrapis further defined as being constructed of a sheet of material selectedfrom a group of materials consisting of paper (untreated or treated),cellophane, foil, man-made organic polymer film, fabric (natural orsynthetic), burlap, claim material, denim or combinations thereof. 5.The packaging of claim 1 wherein the wrap opening is formed through acentral portion of the wrap.
 6. The packaging of claim 1 wherein thewrap has a thickness in a range from less than about 1.0 mils to about30.0 mils.
 7. A packaging comprising:a floral grouping having a bloomend and a stem end; a water vase having an opening extendingtherethrough forming an open upper end and forming a space for receivingand accommodating water and a cap with a cap opening secured to theopened upper end of the water vase; and a wrap having an upper surfaceand a lower surface and an outer periphery, a wrap opening being formedthrough a portion of the wrap intersecting the upper and the lowersurfaces of the wrap and being spaced a distance from the outerperiphery of the wrap, the wrap having bonding material disposedthereon, the stem end of the floral grouping being inserted through thewrap opening to a position wherein the stem end of the floral groupingextends a distance beyond the lower surface of the wrap and the wrapbeing formed about the floral grouping with the upper surface of thewrap being disposed near the floral grouping and the wrap encompassing asubstantial portion of the floral grouping while a portion of the stemend of the floral grouping remains extended through the wrap opening,the stem end of the floral grouping being inserted through the capopening in the water vase with the cap engaging portions of the stem endof the floral grouping for securing the floral grouping to the watervase, and the wrap being formed about a portion of the water vase andthe wrap being bonded to the water vase via the bonding materialdisposed on the wrap.
 8. A packaging comprising:a floral grouping havinga bloom end and a stem end; and a wrap having an upper surface and alower surface and an outer periphery, a wrap opening being formedthrough a portion of the wrap intersecting the upper and the lowersurfaces of the wrap and being spaced a distance from the outerperiphery of the wrap, a drawstring being connected to the wrap, thestem end of the floral grouping being inserted through the wrap openingto a position wherein the stem end of the floral grouping extends adistance beyond the lower surface of the wrap and the wrap being formedabout the floral grouping with the upper surface of the wrap beingdisposed near the floral grouping and the wrap encompassing asubstantial portion of the floral grouping while a portion of the stemend of the floral grouping remains extended through the wrap opening,the drawstring being pulled for gathering the wrap about the floralgrouping.